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Three possible bills were debated, including two by conservative groups that referred to same-sex “civil-unions” or “family relationships” rather than marriage. These were rejected, and the most progressive of the three was passed.

The successful bill includes limited adoption rights for same-sex couples. It was tabled by the government and begrudgingly backed by gay rights campaigners, who see it as falling short of full equality but at least a step in the right direction.

ShapeCreated with Sketch.Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan

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ShapeCreated with Sketch.Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan

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Participants take part in the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taipei, Taiwan, 27 October 2018.

AFP/Getty Images

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Thousands of people attended the march in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

REUTERS

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Participants walk in the parade.

REUTERS

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The march took place ahead of a landmark vote next month on LGBT+ rights in Taiwan.

REUTERS

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On May 24 2017, the Constitutional Court in Taiwan ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in the state.

AP

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After making its ruling on same-sex marriage in May last year, the court stated that its decision must be implemented in two years.

AP

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On November 24, a public vote will be held in Taiwan on same-sex marriage.

AFP/Getty Images

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A participant of the march poses next to a wedding studio.

REUTERS

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A young woman from Chongqing in mainland China holds a fan reading “free writers” before the start of the march.

AFP/Getty Images

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Participants with Pikachu-styled costumes pose as they gather at the square outside the presidential office for the start of the march.

AFP/Getty Images

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Thousands took part in the parade in support of same-sex marriage.

REUTERS

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Participants in the square outside the presidential office before the start of the parade.

AFP/Getty Images

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A couple take part in the march with their baby.

AFP/Getty Images

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Members of Tokyo Rainbow Pride walk in the parade.

AFP/Getty Images

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The parade was awash with rainbow-coloured paraphernalia.

AFP/Getty Images

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A participant of the march poses with a fan.

AP

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A participant from Japan holds a banner before the start of the march.

AFP/Getty Images

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Young women display rainbow flags.

EPA

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A person taking part in the march waves a rainbow flag.

EPA

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A man, decorated with balloons and a rainbow flag, takes part in the celebrations.

EPA

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An American man and his Japanese partner, both wearing headbands saying ‘Japan’ in Japanese, kiss each other during the march.

EPA

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Thousands of people attended the annual march.

EPA

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Taiwan gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei attends the march. Chi became the first person in Taiwan to come out as gay on national television in 1986.

EPA

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Participants take part in the march, organised by Taiwan LGBT Pride.

AP

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Participants hold up a large rainbow flag.

EPA

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People walking in the parade.

EPA

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A person stands in front of a rainbow-coloured flag.

EPA

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A Japanese couple hold a sign saying ‘You Are My Safe Harbour’ in Chinese.

EPA

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A man, decorated with balloons and rainbow flags, takes part in the march.

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Thousands of gay rights supporters gathered outside parliament in Taipei on Friday during the debate, awaiting the landmark vote.

And fighting through the heavy rain, demonstrators embraced tearfully and celebrated with chants of “Asia’s first,” and “Way to go, Taiwan!”

President Tsai Ing-wen – whose party holds the majority in parliament – recognised the issue had been divisive but said in a Facebook post that the government’s bill was the only option to respect both the court ruling and the referendum.

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She wrote on Twitter on Friday morning: ”Today, we have a chance to make history and show the world that progressive values can take root in an East Asian society.”

Friday’s measure could prove a challenge to Tsai’s bid for a second term in a January presidential election, after a poll defeat last year for her DPP was blamed partly on criticism of her reform agenda, including marriage equality.

“The will of some seven million people in the referendum has been trampled,” one conservative group, the Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation said in a statement. “The massive public will strike back in 2020.”